U.S. Africa Command's deputy commander for civil-military activities participates in inauguration ceremony

Stuttgart, Germany, Dec 4, 2008 — The Integrated Center for Treatment and Care of the Military Hospital of Maputo was inaugurated December 3, 2008 in Maputo, Mozambique, during a ceremony attended by approximately 250 members of the Mozambique and Embassy community.

The opening of the clinic coincides with a variety of HIV/AIDS Awareness activities in Mozambique. See http://www.africom.mil/getArticle.asp?art=2292.

Senior officials at the event included His Excellency Filipe Nhussi, Mozambique Minister of National Defense; Todd Chapman, U.S. Embassy Charge d'Affairs; and Ambassador Mary Carlin Yates, U.S. Africa Command deputy commander for civil-military activities.

The ceremony was preceded by a walk-through of the new facility, which was built in coordination with the U.S. Embassy in Mozambique, the U.S. Department of Defense, the Centers for Disease Control, and U.S.-based Columbia University.

The Center will provide free care for patients of the local community, to include post-exposure prophylaxis, mentoring activities for nurses and health technicians, priority consultations for pregnant women, support for pediatric activities, and patient support groups.

Expressing enthusiasm for the newly-built facility, U.S. Embassy Charge d'Affairs Todd Chapman spoke of the center's importance in supporting initiatives such as the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS relief (PEPFAR), a program developed by George W. Bush in 2003 to fight the AIDS epidemic. With 67 percent of worldwide HIV infections and 75 percent of AIDS deaths occurring in Sub-Saharan Africa, the scale of this disease presents a security threat to African nations by weakening governments and militaries and hindering peacekeeping efforts there. The new facility will not only work closely with HIV/AIDS patients, but with persons afflicted with numerous other debilitating diseases.

Yates expressed gratitude for the hard work of all involved in the creation of the center and described the facility as an excellent example of military and civilian cooperation.

"It is an honor to be in Mozambique for the first time as well as be a part of today's ceremony to open a facility which speaks volumes of the friendship and cooperation between the United States and this country," she stated. "This center is a tangible representation of our partnership, one that is helping Mozambique achieve its goals. Cutting the ribbon and opening this clinic is just one more visible act which underscores that Mozambique is not alone in this battle."

The morning's final speaker, His Excellency Filipe Nhussi, remarked on the significant impact the center will have on the lives of Mozambicans, and specifically, in the Mozambican armed forces. He underscored the direct correlation between national security and the prevention of infectious diseases.

The clinic dedication followed Yates' speech at the Eduardo Mondlane University, Mozambique's oldest and premier university. The speaking event was co-hosted by the U.S. Embassy and the Center for International Strategic Studies, an element of the national Higher Institute for International Relations. Approximately 80 persons attended the speaking event, to include members of the Mozambique military, academic and broader community.